The artwork, titled “Young man seen from behind, face in profile,” created around 1520 by the artist Parmigianino, exemplifies the Mannerism (Late Renaissance) art movement. Executed in pen and ink on paper, this sketch and study measures 13.2 x 10.3 cm and is part of the collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes in Rennes, France.
The artwork captures a young man from behind with his face shown in profile. The detailed pen and ink work highlights the texture and folds of the subject’s garment, while the artist skillfully renders the contours of the young man’s curly hair and his delicately outlined face. The use of shading and delicate lines conveys depth and dimension, typical of Parmigianino’s Mannerist style. The simplicity of the medium contrasts with the complexity of the subject’s posture and the subtleties of his expression, encapsulating the artist’s ability to blend the naturalistic with the idealized.
